REPEAT: Ring in the New Year with a Resolution to Prevent Impaired Driving

OAKVILLE, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 31, 2012) - MADD Canada and Allstate Insurance Company of Canada are asking party hosts and party-goers alike to do their part to prevent impaired driving this New Year's Eve.

"Regardless of what your plans are to welcome the New Year, everyone should do their part to eliminate the risk of impaired driving before they leave home," said MADD Canada National President Denise Dubyk. "Ensuring a safe ride home for yourself or your guests takes just a few minutes and it can prevent a lifetime of pain and heartache."

For Party-goers

Whether you are going out to an event or club, or just attending a quiet celebration with family and friends, have a plan in place if you're going to be drinking:

Take a cab or bus.

Arrange for a designated driver.

Don't accept a ride from a driver who may be impaired.

For Party Hosts

If you are hosting a party, think about how you can ensure your guests don't drive impaired:

Make sure you have food and non-alcoholic/low alcoholic beverages available.

Serve drinks yourself, rather than have guests serve themselves, so you can monitor how much your guests have been drinking.

Don't serve alcohol to anyone who is intoxicated.

Know how your guests are getting home and who is driving. Have numbers available for taxi companies. Be prepared to have intoxicated guests spend the night.

Stop serving alcohol long before you expect the party to break up.

Keep track of your own alcohol consumption. The more you drink, the more difficult it will be for you to anticipate problems, supervise the event and intervene to avoid potential problems.

Party hosts are legally responsible to do everything they reasonably can to stop people from driving impaired. For more information on social host liability and tips on safeguarding your guests, visit the "Legal Issues and Social Liability" section of the MADD Canada Resource Library at www.madd.ca.

MADD Canada and Allstate Canada are also encouraging motorists to be aware of other drivers and if they see any driver they suspect is impaired, call 911.

"Everyone can and should play a role in helping to protect our communities from impaired driving," said John O'Donnell, President and CEO of Allstate Insurance Company of Canada. "If we all work together, we can start 2013 off on the right foot - free of crashes, injuries and deaths caused by this terrible crime."

25 Years of Partnership

This year, MADD Canada and Allstate Insurance Company of Canada celebrate 25 years of partnership in the effort to stop impaired driving. Allstate Canada has been the lead sponsor on all MADD Canada programs at various times over those years, and has also been a supporting partner in the publication of numerous statistical, research and liability reports. Currently, Allstate Canada is the National Sponsor of the 2012-2013 School Assembly Program, Title Sponsor of Project Red Ribbon and Official Sponsor of Campaign 911.

About MADD Canada

MADD Canada (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) is a national, charitable organization that is committed to stopping impaired driving and supporting the victims of this violent crime. With volunteer-driven groups in more than 100 communities across Canada, MADD Canada aims to offer support services to victims, heighten awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and save lives and prevent injuries on our roads. For more information, visit www.madd.ca.

About Allstate Insurance Company of Canada

Allstate Insurance Company of Canada is one of Canada's leading producers and distributors of home and auto insurance products. "The Good Hands Network®" enables consumers to contact Allstate Canada through one of 83 community-based Agencies, directly online at www.allstate.ca and through the Customer Contact Centre at 1-800-Allstate. Allstate Canada is committed to making a positive difference in the communities in which it operates and has partnered with organizations such as MADD Canada, Crime Stoppers, United Way and Junior Achievement. In 2010, Allstate Canada, in partnership with the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), created the Allstate All-Canadians program, a mentorship program designed to guide the next generation of Canada's hockey youth. Allstate Insurance Company of Canada was named as a Best Employer in Canada, by Aon Hewitt for 2013. To learn more about Allstate Canada, visit www.goodhandsadvice.ca or www.allstate.ca.